Brief digression: the encounter in Brussels to which Einstein refers here was the Conseil Solvay, the first international conference of its kind established to discuss cutting edge science problems. The list of attendees in 1911 is stuffed full of scientific rockstars, among whom Curie was, of course, the only woman.

. . . tragic suicide . . .highlighted - for me at least - a number of things . . .personal responsibility . . . subjected to a bucketload of twitter abuse, and as a direct result of that attempted to commit suicide.

. . . cyber bullying . . .

It has made me deeply consider everything I write and read on forums such as these. We post opinions and ideas so easily, get into arguments - ... but on a forum (or twitter), you cant. . .see them, you dont know anything about them, and we hand out insults and say things that can be taken so badly

. . .

Is it really that important that someone on the internet thinks you are right?

I think one of the issues is that people fall into the trap of equating internet interaction to 'real' interaction. But it isn't, there's nothing like it in the real world at all. And there should be a massive warning on the front of it that there are down sides to being able to speak to anybody in the world, whoever they are, wherever they are. They can all talk to you too.

Oy, AG, I had to go back. So, have we learned anything? Are some people still going to be trolls and asshats? Yes, and no, eh?

I would say we've learned a lot, but I'm not dealing with trolls and bullies on a daily basis anymore, either. Not all of what we have learned has been good.

The Arab Spring: wouldn't have happened w/o social media. Results? Mostly worse. There are other examples. Yesterday's gun-control marches in the US - wouldn't have been w/o social media. Results? Too soon to know. Many more examples. So those people have learned something.

Russian hacking. Ransomware. Data breaches. I think the world has learned a lot. Today the world at large is MUCH more aware of the possible uses of malware. Just to pat meself on me own back, I've been on that soapbox, preaching warnings for years.

Are we all better people? Nope. On that score, I think you are right.

Anyway, good thread.

Cheers, it's a beautiful day here! Cloudy, with a little rain that is spitting snow! But it is freakin' SPRING! And I love spring. And there's Gent-Wevelgem today. That should worth a little something, eh?